Monday, June 28, 2010

I SCREAM!


 


After leaving Fire Island, it is completely neccessary to stop for Elvis Peanut Butter Shake. Chocolate, Peanut Butter, & Marshmallow whipped into the best thing ever...

Looking like an overstuffed 50's diner, Coyle's is fantastic. There were 15 treats that I was entirely unfamiliar with, all under $5. For real, what is a Cherry Limericky? I don't know, but it is only 2.50, from the 1950's, and I would like one.
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Pure Imagination: Better



You know, it would be pretty amazing to be able to eat the dishwear. Thank YOU Smoking Popes for making my Sunday evening. Yum.

And yes, Gene Wilder really is the correct Willy Wonka.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Muddled Magic

 


When I declined watermelon in my mojito, the waitress exclaimed, "But the watermelon is muddled. It isn't some fake, syrupy sweetner." Oh okay, muddled. Sure. Let's do it.

Muddled Watermelon Mojito. Awesome.

Mashed fresh fruit does make everything better. The watermelon and mint were perfect together, fresh fresh. Muddled. Yum...I am gonna be muddling all summer.
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Whipped Cream & Ludo & Awesome & Sweet.



Yes. We waited and it came. And it is covered in whipped cream. Perfect. Can't wait for the rest.

Ludo's new album out Aug. 17th. http://www.ludorock.com/default.aspx

Fish Bits

 


Ex-Mermaids Lounging...
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Sunday, June 20, 2010

They Say it Better Than Me



mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......

Coney Island-ed


 


The annual Mermaid Parade was Saturday. For the 5th year in a row, I slept too late to see the actual parade but we went anyway. It was almost as good. Mermaid remenants were strewn about the board walk in sequins, corsets, and a surprising number of stilts. We funnel caked, cheesebuerger-ed, and mainly Coney Island lager-ed our way through the new Luna Park. It was pretty bright and shiny but still Coney Island. Tea Cups, the Cyclone, and the Wonder Wheel were conquered and the Freak Show watched. A grand time was had by all!

The funnel cake was a highlight. Perfectly fried and chewy in the center, oil left on your fingers after you break off a piece, and the ideal powdered sugar ratio. You know, the kind where you have to brush it off your shirt for 5 mins afterwards. Coney Island boardwalk food is all it is cracked up to be.
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Saturday, June 19, 2010

Long Night...

 


My Auntie Mopsy came to the wedding bearing gifts for CandyAnna. My childhood memories are peppered with visits by my world traveling aunt. She came to stay and brought salty black licorice from Europe, Godiva Chocolates packaged in airplane sick bags, and candied Anise- which we knew it as 'Indian Candy.' Three fantastic things.

Unknown Black Licorice candy

Black licorice with a candy shell.
SOME sort of excellent filling inside.

If you like black licorice, and I really do, then you will love these. They are best in 2 bites. They sort of pop in your mouth. Yesssss...I will track these down again.
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Friday, June 18, 2010

Some Sort of Language Barrier Issue

 


As found on www.nordiccandy.com/swedish-jelly-rats.html while looking for lemon black licorice. Yours for only 2.60. I am going to chalk this up to cultural differences? I think I saw one of these on the subway tracks the other morning.
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Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Grossest Thing I Ever Ate

 


My first bummer post. Not surprising...but still a bummer. Another shockingly free meal from Continental and I got what I paid for. This Chicken Wrap is made with Chicken breast and rib meat. Really? Those tiny little chicken ribs?
Maybe chicken rib meat was a secret delicacy found only in undercover gourmet "pockets" wrapped in plastic. I believe these pockets are only served on airplanes and at the 7-11. Yummmmmmm gummy, plastic-y rib meat.
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Wedding Cupcakes = No divorce

 


My creative, bridal sister chose cupcakes over a cake for her wedding. I must say, I am supportive! Cupcakes are so sensible. They are cute. They come in individual servings. There are different flavors, and no need to make a commitment to an entire piece. Genius. Cute couples have cute cupcakes.

Red Velvet
Coconut
Black & White Cookie
Vanilla
Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt ***the clear winner in the cupcake eaten contest

Buttercream is not usually my favorite, but this was light and the cake cup was fantastic. Adorable and certainly NOT from a box cake. Plus, my great, great grandma told me if you have cupcakes you will never get divorced!
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Monday, June 14, 2010

Inside the CandyAnna Brain

 


My childhood dreams were finally realized at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, Colorado. Somehow this child's playplace builder has been able to extract the CandyAnna food philosophy. Flavor and taste ARE child's play. Jump aroud, play with your food and ENJOY!!!
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Sunday, June 13, 2010

The Archies: Making my Teeth Hurt.



A Candy Classic. Fake band. Fake song. Love it.

Continental Breakfast

 


As served on Continental Flight - Newark to Denver. FOR FREE. And edible.

Honey Nut Cheerios
Raisins
Sweet Muffin of indiscernible type - COLD***best when dipped in Honey Nut Cheerios Milk
Soda Water
Coffee with Milk
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Candy-Ganza!

 


This is what my sister's house looks like. Seriously.
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Monday, June 7, 2010

The Wrong Side of the Tracks

 


Sometimes CANDY ain't so pretty.
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Sunday, June 6, 2010

Super Super Summer Salad

 
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Just your friendly, neighborhood fresh cut Shepherd's Salad. Which is always friendly, neighborhood excellent. Perfect for Dumbo bbq's on super hot days.

2 Chopped Large Off the Vine Tomatoes
1/2 Diced Sweet White Onion
1 Diced Medium Cucumber
3 Tablespoons-ish Olive Oil
Coarse Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste but certainly use some
1/3 of a brick of feta - chopped

Mix all together in a bowl and squeeze 1/2 a lemon over the whole thing and mix. Lots have parsley but I
1. Had none.
2. Don't love it that much

Enjoy!!

Mint Julep vs. Mint Julep

 
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Classic Southern Mint Julep

4 cups bourbon 2 bunches fresh spearmint
1 cup distilled water*
1 cup granulated sugar
Powdered sugar

The ultimate Mint Julep recipe. Invoking horse racing, gentility, great hats and subtly lingering racism, the Mint Julep is a classic American cocktail. Best served outdoors and in a cold, pewter goblet, the Mint Julep is tasty and clean-it mixes two of my favorite things, Kentucky bourbon and hoop skirts.

Shockingly enough, my corner deli was out of distilled water and fresh spearmint, so I had these instead. Mint Juleps’s by Necco. Chewy taffy a’la Laffy Taffy but with a mild, sweet minty flavor and no jokes (bummer).

Mint Juleps are a classic from the Squirrel Candy Company, formerly called "Southies" and are now made by Necco. While I prefer their banana flavored sister candy, Banana Splits, Mint Juleps are pretty fantastic - I put on my hoop skirt, pop one in my mouth, and take a shot of bourbon. I swear it is almost the same, and no subtly lingering racism to deal with.

Billie Holiday Weighs in on Mashed Potatoes, Jello & Love



"We should be a couple of hot tomatoes, but you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes."

-Miss Billie Holiday

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Better Than A Coconut Monkey Face

 


When I was nine, my best friend went to Hawaii with her family and came back with a monkey face that had been carved out of a coconut. It hung on a string from her door and I burned with envy. While I also wanted to go to Hawaii, I really wanted a coconut monkey face. Twenty years later my sister & her husband stopped in Hawaii after a business trip, but instead of a coconut monkey face they brought me THESE.

Apparently:
Mauna Loa - "the taste of the tropics"
Milk Chocolate Toffee Macadamias
Thick coating of milk chocolate on the outside.
Toffee Coated Macadamia Nuts

Absolutely perfect. While I can’t hang these on my doorknob, these are sooo much better.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Costco: Same Day

 


Not everyone had as good a day at Costco as the mini root beer float did.
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Turkey Feta Sliders, Or what People With Grills Get To Do

 
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Sweet, Sweet Backyard grilling.

Leaving the world of 'my' Brooklyn and entering the world of outside 'my' Brooklyn means a few changes.

-Parking spaces....for cars.
-Strangers who make eye contact, say "hello" and don't make you nervous.
-Houses that move out and not up
-Backyard grilling...like every night!

Below Menu Created and prepared by Mr. Kevin Callahan (www.mapmyfitness.com)

Turkey-Feta Sliders

2 boxes of Ground Turkey
1/3 of a block of chopped Feta
1/4 of a purple onion chopped
1 Egg
Handful of panko crumbs
Form into absolutely adorable little sliders and grill. IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

Bread:
Chop garlic and mix with olive oil. Brush on cut whole wheat dinner rolls and throw on the grill to make them crispy.

Chick Pea Salad:

1 Can of drained & washed chick peas
1/2 chopped purple onion
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup of chopped parsley
Minced Garlic

Summer Beer:
Rim the glass with fresh cut lemon and margharita salt or sea salt
Squeeze fresh lemon into the glass
Add Coors Light ***only appropriate, it is Denver

Then immediately plate the food you (or your almost brother in law) grilled IN THE BACKYARD. Sit and eat outside with sisters, cousins, and said brother in law in the sun.

The sliders were amazing. Be sure to make extra so you can eat the last two out of a plastic bag the next day the way to the airport back to Brooklyn, where you have to pay for this kind of thing.

The Best Free Sample I Ever Ate

 
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Being a person with limited shelf space, no car, a 4th floor walk-up and only one person to feed really gets in the way of needing to buy in bulk.

But as a child, like almost any child, I was pumped for a trip to Sam's (this was long before the days of Costco). Sam's - where all the candy looked like it was going to be sold at my softball field snack bar. Rows of 12 packs of Big League chew and tubs of gummi worms, tongs included.The joy wasn't just inspired by the candy aisle. That HUGE trampoline, and Sam's Choice soda for a quarter that really wasn't the same but still okay.

All this was grand but, let us be honest, it was the free samples that kept the people rolling through the doors and buying food items that come on pallets.

One could go to Sam’s on Sunday morning and leave a few hours later full from a meal made up of a hundred tiny finger foods. Mostly processed, all pretty terrible, but free. Free. Imagine my delight when by happenchance I got to darken these bulk buying doors again.

I call it "Costco Tiny Food Surprise, or the Best Free Sample I Ever Ate"

Scene: Costco, somewhere in Denver.

Hordes have descended to buy flats of bottled water, olive oil and cheap cashmere. Mini mobs are starting to form around each silver stand,a retiree cheerily hocking small bites of frozen food.
The only unhappy faces being those retirees sentenced to demo carpet cleaners. Everyone else is smiling with tiny sample forks in their hands.

Chipper Retiree: "Would you like a free sample? "
CandyAnna: "What is it?"
Chipper Retiree: "A mini root beer float made with Hansons All Natural Root Beer. On special today. You can't beat this deal"
CandyAnna: "What?"
Chipper Retiree: "A mini root beer float made with Hansons. It will only take me a second to make more."
CandyAnna: "I’ll wait."